I recently attended a blanket exercise. Being a visual learner, it was an eye-opener for me. This walk through Indigenous history left me with a newfound knowledge and a desire to learn more. History books teach you words. The blanket exercise teaches how those words affected the Indigenous nations. It was an exercise that would be of benefit to teachers, students, and, in particular, politicians. (Municipal, provincial, and federal.)
Indigenization of offices at all levels of government would ensure that atrocities carried out in the past would never happen again. It would certainly correct education about the past and develop better understanding of Indigenous cultures in the future. It would also help with the revision of Indigenous cultures.
Simply put, it means putting the way that Indigenous people are affected by political decisions back in the hands of Indigenous representatives, as it should be.
When I was growing up, I was aware of the residential schools and the “60s scoop.” (Which actually started in the late 50s and lasted until the 90s.) Somehow the belief that it was a good thing was drilled into me. After all, why wasn’t it good to get educated or have a “better” way of life? That’s what we were all taught, anyways. The fact is that the objective, of all residential schools, was to destroy the Indigenous culture by isolating children from their families, and thus their identity. Little did we know the harm that was being done in the name of education. Stories of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse were buried in the guise of denial. Children were further traumatized when they were told that missing children simply ran away. This result was cultural genocide perpetrated by the Canadian government and different religious factions — most notably, the Catholic Church.
Now, let’s look at the government’s decision a little closer. If you are able, imagine government agents knocking on your door, then pushing their way past you. You are handed a piece of paper that says your children are going to be taken away, because, according to the government, you are an unfit parent. All your children are whisked away. If you protest, then you are pushed down and punched by one of the agents. The picture of your terrified children is etched on your brain forever.
Next, the children are placed at a residential school, where they are stripped, scrubbed, and their hair is cut. If they squirm or resist, they are walloped and placed in confinement. They are given clothes that may or may not fit. One of the regular punishments is to withhold food until compliance is achieved. At night, your children do not know if they will be chosen to “service” one of the staff. They lie awake in fear.
Keep in mind that the government and church officials demanded that your children learn the “chosen” culture. It is beaten into them on a daily basis. Your children are severely punished if they make any attempt to speak their language.
Once your children (the survivors) leave the residential school, they enter a society that does not accept them. They are left in limbo between their natural home, and what they have been taught. With nothing in place to help them transition into life outside the school, many of your children spiral into a life of addictions and abuse. Are you starting to get the picture? Indigenous families did not have to imagine. They lived through it!!!
The other side of this genocide was the “60s scoop,” where children were taken from their families. Some were placed into residential schools, while others were adopted into “white” families. What is particularly horrifying is that foreign governments (U.S.A., Mexico, and others) were complicit in this government action, as children were placed into homes across borders. We are fooling ourselves if we think that this life was a bed of roses for those children. Many were abused sexually, physically, and mentally. ALL lost their culture!!!
Many of the differences in people that are accepted today would have been shunned in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. I am talking about the intellectually and physically impaired, the chronically ill, and those born with a different sexual orientation than perceived as normal. How did the residential schools deal with these children? How many ended up in unmarked gravesites?
One site has been discovered in British Columbia with two hundred and fifteen little bodies uncovered. More have been unearthed in Saskatchewan. There are many more yet to be uncovered. Children who lived in residential schools knew their friends were dying and no one believed them. Often when a tragedy such as this is exposed, there is a great outpouring of support. An expression of grief by placing children’s shoes on church steps occurred right across the country.
Many times grief subsides and the reason for it simply fades away. The unfortunate fact that the Canadian government and the church officials were aware of the facts has not changed. It was a choice to feign ignorance. Now that the truth is exposed, the government and most church officials have issued an official apology. Notably, the Catholic Church has acknowledged the discovery of unmarked gravesites, but will not apologize for it.
An apology means nothing if the behaviour does not change. The federal government (that has been aware for many years, both Liberals and Conservatives,) is finally pledging money and support. Four provinces–Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia–have done the same. We cannot let up until every child’s body is returned to their rightful place–their nation and their family. This mission is Canada’s “cross to bear.”
By Fran Millar
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
